The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-30
BETR0THED TO THE FAITH
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES
MICKVA ISRAEL TEMPLE.

Ladies Pledge Their Allegiance to
the Jewish Faith-Rev. I. P. Mendes'
Address-The Floral Decorations OF
the Synagogue.
The Mickva Israel synagogue was
thronged at yesterdays services. The feast
of Pentecost is one Of general rejoicing
among the Jewish people The Gothic interior
of the handsome synagogue was beautifully
decorated with flowers. Evergreen arches
spanned the aisles and feStoons were Topped
Il gracefully between the pillars under the
vaulted roof.
The ark containing the scrolls and the
reading desk and pulpit were richly orna-
mented with flowers and wreaths of ever
green. Tall ferns about the pulpit waved
gracefully and everywhere there were
offerings of natures richest kind. In front
of the pulpit and on each side of the plat
form were two wreaths of jassamine.
In the centre of one was
the word ''Sivan," and in the other "5647''-
the month Swan of the Jewish year 5647.
Above the pulpit and in front of the ark
was a scroll with the words 30, Bless This
Band
THE CONFIRMATION SERVICE.
After the celebration Of the festival
Of the Jewish church. There were five con-
fiimants-MiSses Pauline Kulman, Ida
Meinhard, Bertha l. Rosenheim, Pauline
We'll aud Lillian r.. Scares They were
dressed in pure white and sat underneath
the scroll and the inscription 30, Bless This
Band, The service began with Baruch
Habah the choir chanting the 11Sth psalm.
At its close the confirnants deposited the
flowers which they carried in front of the
pulpit.
Rev. L P Mendes briefly addressed the
confirmants, preparing them for the new life
which they were about to enter upon. Miss
Ida Meinhard then recited the opening
prayer.
THE OPENING PRAYER.
Guardian Shepherd. King of Isreal whose
watchfJl love and fatherly protection have been
youchsafed unto US from earliest times. Thou
Whose single word hath power to move the
strong foundations of the earth aud
Ali with trembling ard fear Thy
paa ere Th r us Us mnooran's I'VE we
with humble submission unto Thee as the nearer
Of prayer and the only King who can grant our
requests. With this knowledge and conviction
present to our minds, do we appear before Thee
this festive morn TO crown with the wreath Of
sincerity our venerable mother religion, at
whose honored feet we now kneel. For months
past have we been diligently prepared for
this important step, and as the tender
flower opens its leaves at early morn TO catch
the refreshing dew, so have we, Q Lord, longed
and painted for Thy courts to be revived by Thy
promises and strengthened by Thy word. Yea,
confirmation with its solemnities has waited its
fragrant perfumes toward us, and we feel so
happy that we have reached that goal, so thank
full that we have been spared to take our stand
in the ranks-of duty and life.
To Thee, o God, do we now reveal our hearts
that Thou mayest read therein our true motives
and intentions. Be with our lips, o Father and
frame our tongues to speak with accuracy and
wisdom the expositions and explanations of the
tenets of Thy faith. Let our words carry enthusi-
asm With them, that they may cause others TO
take up the refrain of our song; that its sweet
tones may gladden. their lives and cheer them on
ward to religion and upward to Thee, our God.
Suffer, my Father, our faithfulness to come
before Thee, that it may eloquently plead to
Thee to keep us firm in our duty, loyal in our
allegience and determined in our resolves to
cling TO Thee with all our heart, with all our
soul and with all our might. feeling, as we do,
beyond doubt, that Thou alone art good, for
Thy mercies never fall Thou alone art merci-
full, for Thy goodness never ceaseth for from
ever have we put our trust in Thee, Oh, God.
Amen.
The choir then chanted:
snake us sound in Thy teachings that our hearts
may never come to shame"
THE RELIGIOUS EXAMINATION.
The religious examination of the confirm
ants followed and was conducted by the
minister. After it the choir sang the hymn,
''How happy when in early days. which
was followed by the confirmants' acceptance
of the law Of God Miss Pauline Well re-
cited the beautiful acceptance:
Here in the presence of the Mighty Goo of Is
rael we WELD that loyal allegiance which binds
ms henceforth to His holy Law. We how our
heads with dutiful submission to all that He may
decree concerning us in the future. We place
all our hopes and all our trust in Him, feeling
assured that He who is the mighty God car
place us far beyond the reach Of dangers OIL
troubles. and can erect over our head:
the sacred tabernacle of everlasting peace
We will strive to show ourselves CRATE
ful for the honor conferred upon
ms by adhering TO our heavenly religion. by en-
Aeo1 M in hot md hx-
encing it until the moment of the separation OF
the Immortal spirit from its mortal resting
place We believe in the immutabiiity and eter
nifty OF car Holy law, and strengthened in thi
belief we will never forsake that staff wheror
we can lean for support in the snowy winter o
our lives. We accept the burden of duty that
confirmation has placed upon our shoulders
and we now turn TO God with the heartfelt re
quest that lie will strengthen our resolves ana
cause us to grow up good, true and nobl'
women that He may teach us how to appreciat;
as well as to follow the declaration of our Father
at the foot OF Sinai
ACCEPTANCE OF THE LAW.
Tho confrmants then repeated together
Gan that tie Lord hath spoken we viii do
and we will obey from now until the end %
our DAYS Amen The confirmation hymn
Teachings of the Lord" was sung by tn,
choir The closing prayer was beautifully
recited by Miss Rosenheim, after which thu
choir again sang:
'Raising up TO Thee their voices,
Here tniS DAY Ihy cnlluT'en STAND,
With Thy light, Lord, that rejoices,
pious souls, o bless this band
Rev. Mr. Mendes in his address dwelt upol
the thought, II will betroth the unto me il
faithfulness and thou shalt know the Lord.
He referred to the giving of the law o.
Sinai more than thirty centuries ago, anC
pictured that awful scene at the foot of th
mountain when the sacred tables of stone
which bore the imperishable truths tina
have become the moral law Of all civilizet
peoples, were placed in Moses hands Tn
law, the minister said, is the bridal present
The women of Israel are the bride and tn
Lord is the bridegroom. The festival Of tn
Pentecost is the anniversary OF the Lord
betrothal and the giving OF the law. TIL
minister's address 10 the cunflITnants wa
full OF tenderness and solcitude. II
charged them to be faithful to en-
sacred vows they had taken. Love, h
said, is the great principle Of the Jewisl
religion God has made love AMI Law
Synonymous throughout the history of man
ki I'd. To the conhIInants be said: Upoi
the portals Of yonr home write that swec
word-Love. God said: 81 will Detroit
thee unto me in faithfulncSs and thou shall
know the Lord y